Knight Just Burst My Bubble... Now What?

I was set to start Knights Squire Program in july and kick off my new career choice when I got a call today from my recruiter telling me their new rules to the squire program. They have bumped the training pay from $400 a week to $500, which is a good thing. But then she dropped a bomb on me by stating they no longer cover the hotel cost while you are in class. You have your option of where you want to stay but the shuttle only picks up from the hotel they use which will now cost me $50 a day. So $50 a day x 28 days, 4 week training program, = $1400.... WTF, like most people looking to start a trucking career, I pretty much live paycheck to paycheck. It was going to be hard enough not having an income for 4 weeks but I was willing to make that sacrifice and get behind on bills because I know the outcome will be well worth it. But there is no way in hell I can shell out 1400 just for the hotel stay and you might as well tack on another $200 for food.

So now that knight is out of the question Im left with Pam and Prime to get my training. Prime confuses me because I know nothing about the lease program, which by the way I read the site is what they make you do. Can someone please point me in the right direction. I want to try and make as much as possible for as little as possible up front. Any suggestions?

You don't have to lease to work for prime you have that option if you go there but they don't force you to you can be a company driver for them and many of the members of this forum are company drivers for prime.

Sorry to hear this. You may want to contact the recruiter and get clarification. I just attended orientation and the paid for my hotel. Also the 4 weeks will not be spent in the hotel. Some is classroom and other parts are on the truck. At least that's how I understand it to be.

Sorry to hear this. You may want to contact the recruiter and get clarification. I just attended orientation and the paid for my hotel. Also the 4 weeks will not be spent in the hotel. Some is classroom and other parts are on the truck. At least that's how I understand it to be.

How many total days are you in the hotel? This is my only problem with Knight. I just cant come off that much $ for what is supposed to be "company sponsored cdl training".

Prime does not require you to lease, it is an option if you so choose.

Prime pays for your lodging, meals, transport during the time you are there for orientation (usually 1 week). Then you are out with an instructor for training to learn what is needed to obtain your CDL. Once that is complete, you are out with a trainer for an additional 30,000 miles at which time you are paid a minimum of $700/week or 12 cents per mile whichever is greater (per mile may have gone up since I did my training).

Then you are upgraded to a solo driver (you can either be a company driver or lease operator at that time, your choice).

At no time does Prime push or require you to become a lease operator unless you chose that path.

Hope this clears things up a little for you.

Ernie

I was only there three days but I went in with my cdl

So $50 a day x 28 days, 4 week training program, = $1400.... WTF

I am doing the squire program as well. How I see it is I will be doing orientation for 3-4 days. This period is medical exam, drug testing, company and driver based classroom training. According to my recruiter the hotel and lunch are covered.

After I become an employee, I head down to CDL TRAINING (squire program). I believe I will be doing backing, shifting, and learning the truck for 3-4 days then I will be in a truck with a trainer. One week city, one week highway. The max for hotel time during CDL Training seems to be 3-4 days. As I see it, you should come out ahead with the weekly increase.

You may want to check again. I spoke with my recruiter this morning and was told the pay is still 400 a week

You can get a better deal than 50 bucks a night, many hotels rent monthly, you could find another student to bunk with and share the cost, you could rent a room in someones home, you give up much too easily in this regard, there are many many options for you. Borrow a friends camp trailer and get a space for example. All you need is some housing not some 1400 a month hotel.

Phil

Hi Sam...Dude Prime won't ask you to lease or make you feel like you have to go lease but you'll have that option after Training. I went through Prime's training program and would recommend it because it's a longer, more detailed plus pays good while you're out with your Trainer..

Ken C.